The eCrozier

This is both a Traveling Crozier report and a request for some feedback.

First, the travelogue: I will be in the Albany Convocation from Thursday night through Sunday evening this week meeting with the convocation clergy on Friday at noon and with individual appointments with clergy later. On Saturday morning I have a breakfast meeting with the Vestry of Holy Spirit, Dawson. Weather permitting I will take a road trip on my bicycle Saturday afternoon somewhere in the Albany area. Anyone want to join me? Sunday I visit Holy Spirit, Dawson in the morning and in the afternoon, St Francis, Camilla where I will have a supper meeting with their vestry Sunday night. The Gospel this Sunday is the Parable of the Prodigal Son. There will be great preaching all around our diocese this Sunday. It is a “can’t miss” parable!

Now, I need your feedback. Attached you will find a draft of what I hope will become the standard Letter of Agreement for all our parochial, stipendiary clergy. As such, it would serve as the base line for all future clergy-vestry relationships. Items could be added to this base line agreement, but items included could not be negotiated away. My purpose in offering this and eventually making it the standard expectation is that we all want to retain (and attract) high quality, gifted clergy to our diocese. One important way of doing that is to have a solid Letter of Agreement. So, please let me know what you think about the attached. After processing the feedback and making adjustments based on the feedback, I will present this to Diocesan Council later this year for their endorsement.

One other item: Canon Mary Willoughby and I met with representatives from the Church Medical Trust yesterday in order to begin finding ways of getting significant cost savings for clergy and laity health insurance in the Diocese of Georgia. Mary and I are convinced that can be done and she is working to make that happen before the end of this year. At our Fall Clergy Conference (mark your calendars for October 4-6), we will have a full report and new options for everyone to consider. Between now and then, we will need your full cooperation in responding to requests for information. In order for us to drive down costs and keep high quality coverage, we will need information from everyone, even those not currently with a Church Medical Trust plan. I trust all of you will be prompt in responding to requests for information.

Spring is on the way. The weather is warming up. Take a walk (or a bike ride!) with someone you love.

+Scott